Chair structure



Aug. 25, 1953 D, R, JQHNSON 2,649,901

CHAIR STRUCTURE Filed 0G12.' 5l, 1952 l INV EN TOR.

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Patented Aug. 25, 1953 UNITED -STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

The present invention relates to chair structures, and the like.

An object of the present invention is to provide a chair construction which is comparatively simple, and yet strong and sturdy.

Another object of the invention is to provide a chair construction embodying a single member which serves to support the bottom, back and side portions of the seat.

A further object of the invention is to provide a chair construction, in which a single diagonally disposed member interconnects the supporting sides of the chair frame, so as to make the entire structure rigid, the diagonal member also functioning `as a support for the bottom, back and side portions of the seat.

This invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objects which may be made more clearly apparent from a consideration of a form in which it may be embodied. This form is shown in the drawings a-ccompanying and forming part of the present specification. It will now be described in detail, for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention; 'but it is to be understood that such detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since the scope of the invention is best dened by the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a chair embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the chair, as seen from the right of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a top plan View of the chair structure;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view disclosing the manner of attaching the diagonal seat supporting portion of the frame to the side members of the frame;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary cross-section taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

The chair structure illustrated in the drawings includes a pair of spaced apart and opposed side frame members I, I0, each of which is of generally inverted V-shaped form. Each side member may be made from a single piece of metallic tubing, and includes an intermediate upper arm rest portion I I, from which an inclined rear upright portion or leg I2 inclines downwardly in a rearward direction, the lower end of the leg being adapted to rest upon a floor F. The arm rest portion II also merges into a front upright portion or leg I3 which is inclined in a downward and forward direction, the terminal of this leg also 'being adapted to rest upon the floor F. The side frame structures I 0, IIJ on both sides of the chair may be identical. As disclosed most clearly in Fig. 1, they lie in generally vertical planes, although, of course, they could be inclined to some extent with respect to each other, if desired.

The side frame members are secured rigidly in spaced relation with respect to each other by an upper ring or annular member I4 that will be described hereinafter, and also by a pair of cross members I5, I5, which are disclosed as extending diagonally between the side frame members I0, IU. Thus, one of the cross members or diagonal braces I5 will extend from a front leg I3 of one side frame member I0 to the rear leg I2 of another side frame member. The other cross member or diagonal brace I5 will extend from the rear leg I2 of the first-mentioned side frame member to the front leg I3 of the other side frame member I0. The diagonal braces cross each other in the manner shown most clearly in Fig. 3, and preferably lie in substantially horizonta1 planes at a suitable midpoint along the length of the front and rear legs I3, I2. The ends of the diagonal braces or cross-members I5, I5 are secured to the respective legs I2, I3 in any suitable manner, as by use of Welding material I6.

The chair frame is made more rigid by providing another bracing and supporting member I4 between the side frame members I0, I I). This particular supporting member also functions as the support for the bottom I'I, back I8 and side portions I9 of a seat 20 suspended therefrom. Thus, the member I4 is in the form of -a ring that may be made of tubular metal, this ring being of generally ovate form. The forward and rearward portions 2I, 22 of the ring lie on the arcs of circles, which may have different radii of curvature, these forward and rearward portions being interconnected by relatively straight portions 23. As disclosed most clearly in Fig. 3, each relatively straight portion 23 may extend from a point 24 approximately midway of the armrest portion II of each side frame structure I0 to the rear curved portion 22, which commences at a point 25 approximately 45 degrees from a Vertical plane passing through both armrest portions and at right angles thereto.

The diagonal ring member I4 is disclosed as extending. on the outside of the upper portions of the side frame members Ill, I0, the diagonal ring being inclined in a forward and downward direction. Its uppermost end 26 is disposed at the rear portion of the structure and substantially above the armrest portions II. The ring engages each side frame member IIJ at approximately the juncture or corner 2'I of the armrest portion I I and the rear' leg I2, inclining in a downward and forward direction, to engage each inclined front leg member I3 a short, although substantial, distance below the armrest portion The diagonal ring member I4 is integrated to the side frame members Il), I0, as by the use of welding material 28. The points of welding are disclosed as being at the corners 2l between the armrest portions ll and the rear legs l2 of the side frame members, and also at the front leg portions I3 a substantial distance below the armrests Il. -Of course, dependingupon the angle of inclination of thediagonal ring member lli tothe horizontal, the points of attachment between the ring and each side frame member I9 may Vary. As disclosed in the drawings, the diagonal ring I4 makes an angle of approximately IE5-degrees to the horizontal, but this angl-emay be varied, without departing from the invention.-

The diagonal ring I4 lies in a singletplanesand serves to support the chair seat 20. As .disclosed in the drawings, the chair seat is of woven, basket-like construction Vand is suspended from the `diagonal ring Id. Thus, the seat includes the back'p-ortion I8,which merges into the bottom I of the seat. The basket-like 'construction also provides the side members i9, i9 that interconnect vthe back and bottom portions, these side members I9 and the back portion i8 supporting the chair bottom l' from the diagonal member 14. The forward portion of the chair bottom' H isfcarried directly by the frontrportioniw ofthe diagonal ring itself, which'is disposed substantially below the`level of the armrests 'l l. Instead o'f a -woven-basiret-like construction of theseat 20,'it could Ibe maderof other materials'that are suitably shaped, to providecomfort to theperson sitting in therchair. Regardless of themateria'l, the diagonal ring would support the entire seat construction and serve as the support for fits back, sides andlbottomportions, as well ias .providing Vlateral support and restraint .to a Aperson sitting inthe chair.

It is, accordingly, apparent #that Vthe diagonal ring `Hl serves as a `:cross-member or brace vbetween thesidelframe members '49, -lof the chair structure, andthat'it'alsofserves as a'support for the variousportions of the seat 2e. The inclina- .tion of the diagonal ring in a forward and downward directionfenables the seat to be 'suspended therefrom, the rear portion 26-of the ring being disposedsufliciently above the bottom -I'l `of the seat Ato enablea substantial backrest I-8 to be suspended from thetrear portion Y22`of the ring. The `.front porti-on .300i the ring, due to the in- ,clination of the latter in a downward and for- .warddirection is-disposed at the proper height, .toprovide-thezforward edgeof the bottom Irof .the seat, enabling a-person to readily place him- ,self on and remove himself from the seat.

The inventor claims:

1. .In achair: apair of spaced substantially lJ-.shaped side frame members; a substantially annularframe member encompassing .and .rigidly secured to the upperportionsofsaid side frame .members .and extending forwardly .and rearwardly-,ofsaid sideframemembers, said substan- .tially annular. member .being ,inclined in a down- Ward andforward direction and lyingsubstantially in a single central plane, the uppermost vrear end .of said substantially annular member being disposed substantially above the upper ends of said side vframe members and the lowermost front end of said substantially `annular member being Adisposed substantially below the upper. ends of said side vframe members; and .a flexible support secured to and freely suspended'from points throughout the periphery of said substantially `annular member defining back, bottom and `side portions.

2. In a chair: a pair of spaced substantially U-'shaped side frame members, each member :having an'upper armrest portion and 'frontfand .rearleg v.portions depending and diverging from said armrest portion; a substantially annular frame member encompassing and welded to each side frame member adjacent the juncture between said rear leg portion and armrest portion yandpto the ifront .leg portion substantially below said armrest portion, said substantially annular 4iframe member being inclined in a downward and forward direction and lying substantially in a single central plane, the uppermost rear end of said-substantially annular member being disposed substantially above said armrest portions and :thelowermostifrontrend of said substantially annular member being disposed substantially below said armrest portions; and a exible support secured to and freely suspended from points throughout the periphery -of said substantially annular member defining back,`bottom and side portions.

3. In achair: a pair of spaced substantially U-shaped side frame members; a substantially annularframemember encompassing and rigidly secured tothe upperportions of 'said side frame members 'and extending forwardly and vrearwardly of said side framelmeinb'ers-,said substantiallyfannular'member 4being inclined in a downward and for-ward direction and lying substantially `in a single central plane, vthe :uppermost rear -end -of said Lsubstantially annular member being disposed substantially above the upper ends of said side frame members and the lowermost front end of said substantially annular `member lbeing disposed substantially'belowtheupper ends ofsaid,side'framemembers; and a'support carried by-and Vsuspended from said substantially Iannular memberto-deiine back, bottom `andside portions.

4. 'In a chair: :a :pairof'spaced substantially `U-shapedside frame members; a substantially annular iframe member` encompassing i and rigidly -secured to fthe upper portions of said side 'frame members and vextending forwardly and rearwardly of :said side frame members, said substantially annular member being inclinedin'a downward and forward direction and lying substantially -in a `'single vcentral plane, the uppermost rear end of said substantially :annular member being disposed substantiallyabove the upper ends of said side frame members and the lowermost front end of -said substantially annular member being disposed substantially below the upper ends of said side frame -members; vand a vsupport secured Ato and suspended from points throughout the periphery of said substantially annular member deningback, bottom and side portions.

.DANIEL R. JOHNSON.

References 'Cited in the le of this patent UNITED 'STATES PATENTS Number Name Date D. 1681212 `Ciccheli Nov. 18, 1952 232,496 vHeywood. Sept. 21, 1880 A2,207,025 vRison July 9, 1940 ,2,464,995 vRoth Mar. 22, 1949 .2,512,353 vMagaldino eteal. June20, 1950 2,521,339 Burn Sept. 5, 1950 12,600,944 Victor June 1'?, 1952 2,622,663 Burd Dec. 23, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 994,932 France Aug. 14, 1951 -LOTHER REFERENCES Popular .Mechanios Magazine, January l1945, page 4l. 

